Non-refillable bottle and the like.



A. G. G. LIARDET. NON-REFILLABLE BOTTLE AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7,1911.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

HE NORRIS PETERS CG.. PHOTO LITH ARTHUR C. C. LIARDET, OF LONDON. ENGLAND.

NON-REFILLABLE BOTTLE AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Application filed June 7. 1911., Serial No. 631,858.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Anrnnn C. C. LIAR- DET, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Non-Refillable Bottles and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to non-refillable bottles and the like of the kind in which a float valve is employed having a weight suspended therefrom by a flexible connection, said valve acting in conjunction with a tubular member supported within the neck of the bottle and whose upper end is formed as a seating for said valve.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide means to prevent unauthorized. refilling of the bottle by jumping, that is by rapidly shaking the bottle up and down when under liquid in order to cause momentary displacement of the float valve, whereby a quantity of the liquid woult enter the bottle.

A further object of the invention is to provide means which will effectually pre vent the float valve from leaving its seat until the bottle is held at such an angle that no liquid can be poured into it.

A further object of the invention is to provide a non-refillable bottle which shall be simple in construction, efficient in operation and at the same time practicable and economical to manufacture.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the particular description thereof which follows with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an axial section through the upper part of a bottle embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is an axial section showing the bottle in horizontal position. Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the bottle held at an angle which will permit of the flow of liquid therefrom. Fig. 4 is a crosssection on the line 4-4= of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows. Fig. 6 shows a modification in axial section, and Figs. 7 and 8 are details in perspective and elevation respectively.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, a is the bottle, the neck of which is formed with an annular seating b, which serves in conjunction with a cork ring I) to maintain the tubular member c in position in the bottle, a flange 0 at the upper end of said member bearing against the ring I) to form a snug joint. 0 is the float valve which is here shown as a cork having a head a of glass or other suitable material. This valve normally occupies the position shown in Fig. 1, resting against its seat at the upper end of the tubular member c. The lower end of said member is formed with a bulbular spherical projection 0 the lower portion of which is a perfect hemisphere while the upper portion is some what reduced in cross-sectional area. This bulb 0 is formed with four slots 0 at right angles to one another and radial to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, and these slots are flared toward the bottom of the bulb as shown clearly in Fig. 3. Extending downwardly to a point slightly beyond the center of the bulb c is a tapered recess a which communicates with the bore of the tubular member 0. A weight f, hercinafter referred to as the main weight is suspended from the float valve (1 by means of a central flexible connection comprising a connection extending through the tubular member from the float valve to a point 9 in said recess 0* which is approximately the center of radii of the lower hemisphere of the bulb 0 at which point it is connected with the connection g which passes through a central tapered opening 7' in the weight 7, and is secured by means of the button f Arranged upon the connection 9 is a check or bead h which is normally seated in the recess 0. I may use a single flexible connection with equal facility, in place of the double connection described above, but in this case it is desirable that the point at which the connection passes out of the checkor bead it should be located at approximately the center of radii of the lower hemisphere of the bulb 0 The wall of the tubular member 0 is formed with three or more openings 0 (see Fig. 4), and located upon the flexible connection 9 between the check it and the float valve is an auxiliary weight c',the purpose of which will be fully hereinafter explained. This auxiliary weight 2' may be held in fixed position upon the flexible connection opposite the openings 0 or it may be free to move either upwardly or downwardly thereon, but I prefer to limit its movements by tying knots g in the flexible connection 9 The operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, the flexible connection is held taut by the action of the main weight f so that the float 6 cannot leave its seat. Then the bottle is tilted toward a horizontal position to pour out its contents, the main weight f, the upper surface of which is dished to conform with the lower hemispherical surface of the bulb 0 moves around the bulb toward a position where its axis is at a right angle to the plane in which the bottle is held, the portion of the flexible connection between the check it and the weight 7 being guided in one or other of the slots 0 In this position the weight 7 is supported by the check It instead of by the float valve 0, and consequently, were it not for the auxiliary weight 2', the action of which will now be described, the weight of the float valve would pull the check toward the mouth of the tubular member, so that the check would leave the position it occupied in Fig. 1 at the bottomof the recess a and would move along its inclined surface, thereby relieving the flexible connection 9 from the tension of the weight f and permitting the float valve 6 to open as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This, however, is not wholly desirable because itwould enable the bottle to be partly filled by holding-it under liquid inthis position. I therefore provide means which will prevent the float valve from leaving its seat during angular movement of the bottle from the time that the float valve is released from the main weight until the bottle is held at such an angle that no liquid can enter it. These means include theauxiliary weight 2' hereinbefore referred to, which is adapted directly the tension of the main weight f is taken ofl the flexible connection 9 to cause a sagging of the flexible connection which will be such'as to shift the checkh toward the float valve while retaining said valve upon its seat, as shown in full lines in Fig. It will therefore be apparent that no liquid can be poured into the bottle even though the actionof the weight f and check it tending to holdthe float upon its seat has ceased. Upon further 7 angular movement of the bottle, the tendency of the weight 2' to take up the sag in the flexible connection will diminish in proportion as the bottle is moved toward a vertical position, and at a certain point in the angular movement of the bottle, as when the bottle is in the position shown in Fig. 3,this auxiliary weight will relieve the sagging by moving forward and so release the float valve from its seat, thereby permitting the bottle to be emptied. The angle at which the bottle must be inclined before the valve will open is such that liquid cannot possibly be poured into it, so that the bottle is effective to prevent unauthorized refilling. The openings 0 allow free movement of the weight 2' under gravity, as shown in Fig. 2, which movement would otherwise be limited by the wall of the tubular member. Furthermore these openings allow the liquid to flow out of the bottle through the mouth of the tubular member. It is sometimes desirable to permit the auxiliary weight entire freedom of movement along the flexible connection 9 so that the impact of the weight against the float valve when the bottle is sufliciently tilted will assist in, shifting it off its seat. lVhile the hemispheres of the bulb 0 may be alike, if desired, I prefer to shape them as above described inasmuch as by this formation I avoid any tendency of the weight to stick.

I prefer to provide a baffle or hollow stopper 0 in the neck of the bottle to prevent the valve from being tampered with. As shown 6 with a bent wire inserted through the aper- V tures 0 I may use any suitable means to re tain the baflle in position, but in the. construction here illustrated I provide a pawllike catch 0 which cooperates with a rack 0 formed on the inner surface of the battle in a panel 0? between two of the apertures 0 Before the baflle is placed into the neck of the 7 bottle I push the catch 0 through a slot 0 opposite said rack with its upperend resting against the highest tooth of the rack so that it occupies the position shown in dotted lines 7 in Fig. 1. I then insert the baffle in the neck of the bottle, the inner wall of which prevents the catch from leaving said position until the slot 0 comes opposite the annular groove 0 in the bottle neck. At this moment the lower end of the catch will be free to move into the groove 0 and its upper end will slip down under the face of the uppermost tooth of the rack and catch into the next tooth thereby acting as a locking pawl and firmly maintaining the battle in position. It is not essential that the float valve 6 be made of cork, as it may be a hollow glass bulb or made of any other suitable material. In the construction illustrated in Fig. 6 the walls of the tubular member as are brought curve of the dished face of the weight 03 Four slots 0: similar to the slots 0 of Figs. 1 to 4:, are formed in thewall of the tubular member, these slots serving to guide the flexible connection as before. To provide a point around which the weight :6 may oscillate, 11% a disk 00 formed with a central aperture 00 in the bore of the tubular mem' her and this disk is retained in position by a knot a. in the flexible connection e As, in the operation of the device, the center around which the weight w oscillates must move toward the float valve, I provide the disk :0 with projections to which fit in the slots 02* and are guided in said slots so that said disk may move toward the float valve upon release from the locking action of the weight 00 when the bottle is sufliciently tilted. The annular projection a) serves as a fulcrum or hearing for the auxiliary weight 1 which operates in substantially the same manner as the weight 2' in Figs. 1 to 4; with this construction, however, the projection m limits the movement of the auxiliary weight toward the float valve. It will be noticed that instead of arranging the cork ring below the flange at the upper end of the tubular member, as in Figs. 1 to 4, I may form a flange m a slight distance below the upper edge of the tubular member an, and locate the cork ring, which may be screwed on, above it. I may employ a nar rower flange and increase the area of the lower part of the bore of the tubular member m so as to give greater freedom of movement for the auxiliary weight 3 thereby avoiding the necessity for forming the wall of the tubular member with openings, such as the openings 0 in Figs. 1 to 4, although of course I may provide these openings if desired. The liquid in the bottle flows out through the openings 02 when the float valve is opened.

It will be apparent that the spherical formation of the bulb in Figs. 1 to will permit of greater freedom of movement for the main weight 7 than the formation of the end of the tubular member a: of Fig. 6, owing to the fact that the movement of the weight a is limited by the outer wall of the tubular member as. I am, however, able to counteract this by removing four segments from the dished upper surface of the weight, leaving recesses s (Fig. 7) each at a right angle to the central axis of the weight, between which are four bearing faces 8 which are adapted to the lower edge :0 of the tubular member at. These segmental recesses 8 permit the weight to move around the end of the tubular member through the requisite distance, as will be readily understood.

While I have described my invention with reference to certain specific embodiments, it will be apparent that the constructions described are capable of modification without departure from the spirit of my invention, and I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific embodiments of my invention herein shown and described.

l/Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A non-refillable bottle comprising in combination, a support arranged in the bottle, a float valve in contact with the upper end of said support, a weight, and means for connecting the weight to the valve so that said weight is held in contact with the lower end of said support.

2. A non-refillable bottle comprising in combination, a support arranged in the bottle, a float valve in contact with the upper end of said support, a weight, means for connecting the weight to the valve so that said weight is held in contact with the lowerendof said. support, and means for retarding the release of the float valve until the bottle is in a predetermined position.

3. 1L non-refillable bottle comprising in combination, a float valve, a support for said valve, an outwardly curved lower end on said support, a weight in contact with said curved end, a normally taut flexible con- 'nection between said weight and valveand additional means for retaining said valve closed until the bottle is in a predetermined position.

4. In a non-refillable bottle, the combination of a float-valve, a tubular member forming a seating therefor, a convex lower end of said tube, a weight lying in contactwith its outer surface, a normally taut flexible connection between the weight and the float-valve, means whereby the tilting of the bottle tends to permit the weight to rea lease the valve from its seat, and additional means to retard the opening of said valve until the bottle is in a predetermined position. i

In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the float-valve, and the tubular member forming a. seating therefor, of a convex lower end of said member, a weight lying in contact with said convex end, a flexible connection between said weight and the float-vahe, a check upon said flexible connection, means whereby the tilting of the bottle tends to permit the weight to release the valve from its seat, and an auxiliary weight upon said flexible connection acting to retard the opening of said valve until the bottle is moved into a predetermined angular position.

6. In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the float-valve, and the tubular member forming a seating therefor, of a convex slotted lower end of said member, a weight lying in contact with said convex end, and a normally taut flexible connection between the weight and the float-valve, said flexible connection being adapted to engage with one or other of the slots in the lower end of the tubular member.

&

7. In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the fioatvalve, and the tubular member forming a seating therefor, of a convex slotted lower end of said member, a check bearing on its inner surface, a normally taut flexible connection between said check and the float-valve, a weight lying incontact with said convex end, a flexible connection between the weight and the check being adapted to engage with one or other of the slots in the lower end of the tubular member.

8. In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the float-valve, and the tubular member forming a seating therefor, of a convex lower end of said member, a weight having a concave surface lying in contact with the said convex end, a normally taut flexible connection between the weight and the float-valve, means whereby the tilting of the bottle to pour out the contents tends to permit the weight to release the valve from its seat, and an auxiliary weight upon said flexible member.

9. In a nonrefillable bottle, the combination with the float-valve, and the tubular member forming a seat therefor, of a convex slotted lower end of said member, a weight lying in contact with the said convex end, a normally taut flexible connection between the weight and the float-valve adapted to engage with one or other of said slots, thereby tending to permit the weight to release the valve from its seat, and a weight upon said connection adapted to retard the opening of said valve until the bottle is moved into a predetermined angular position.

10. In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the float-valve, and the tubular member formed with peripheral apertures and serving as a seating therefor, of a convex lower end of said member, a Weight lying in contact with said convex end, a flexible connection between said weight and the float-valve, a check upon said flexible connection, means whereby the tilting of the bottle tends to permit the weight to release the valve from its seating, and an auxiliary weight upon said connection located oppositethe aperture in said tubular member.

11. In a non-refillable bottle, the combination. with the float-valve, and the tubular member forming a seating therefor, of a convex lower end of said member, a weight lying in contact with said convex end, a normally taut flexible connection between the weight and the float-valve, and means whereby the tilting of the bottle permits the weight to release the valve from its seating.

12. In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the float-valve, and the tubular member forming a seating therefor, of a convex lower end of said member, a conical recess in said end, a weight lying in contact with said convex end, a normally taut flexible connection between the weight and the float-valve, and means whereby the tilting of the bottle permits the weight to release the valve from its seating.

13. In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the float-valve, and the tubular member forming a seating therefor, of means whereby the tilting of the bottle releases the valve from its seating, a perforated baflie in the neck of the bottle, a slot in the wall of .said baffle, a rack onthe inner face of said bafiie, and a locking pawl extending through said slot and adapted to engage with said rack at its upper end and with said bottle at its lower end.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR G. C. LIARDET.

Uopies of this patent may be obtained or five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington. D. C. 

